BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 1, 2025

Charlie Appleby

Hugh Anderson

William Buick

Mile

THE MODERATOR: We're all set to go in the post-race winners interview room with William Buick, Hugh Anderson, the managing director of Godolphin UK, and Charlie Appleby on the right.

I'll start with you since you've got one more ride here. Take us through the race. Must be nice to never leave the fence.

WILLIAM BUICK: Yeah, that's a luxury you don't always get. He filled me with confidence right from the first jump. He warmed up real good, and he was a little bit aggressive with me. The longer we warmed up, the more aggressive he became in a good way.

When he won at Woodbine last time, he was a little bit sleepy, but today he had his game face on. He broke accordingly. I could have been closer if I wanted to, but the pace was on. So I settled in where we all thought I would be. Then Charlie gave me the confidence to ride the rail. He said, look -- he always says with this horse it will either happen or it won't.

Look, he was in a beautiful rhythm, in a good spot, and we did know from the quarter pole there was no horse going to be going better than us. Look, I could see it all happen in front of me. He had that instant kick. He's a great horse, and I'm just so happy that he's getting the plaudits and showing everyone what he can do.

THE MODERATOR: We know you've got one more to go. We'll let you go. Charlie, this is your fourth win in the race in the last five runnings. The only one has been narrow defeat with this horse a year ago. Besides the obvious answer, which is bring a good horse, what does it take to win this race consistently like you have?

CHARLIE APPLEBY: I think it's a race that everyone is probably well aware now that we enjoy winning today and always try to. You've got to pick a horse, the right horse, pick it far enough out realistically. Some of these races kind of sometimes been -- not far from saying they're a last chance saloon for a few of them, but I like to think we plan far enough out that we bring the right horse and prep it right to hopefully turn up and run to his full ability.

THE MODERATOR: Obviously you came here last year and ran well. Was it the plan this year this would be the year-end goal again?

CHARLIE APPLEBY: 100 percent. When I walked away from here last year -- of course you're a bit disappointed you got beat -- but realistically, I felt that he learned a lot, he was a 3-year-old there, a 2000 Guineas winner, Sussex winner, highest-profile horse we probably ever brought to a Breeders' Cup in respect to that.

Also, he'd been on the go since January. It was a long season for him, but we fully intended to come here again 12 months later and sort of try and correct what we didn't get done last year.

THE MODERATOR: Hugh, one question for you. This horse has had real great success at 3 and now at 4. Has there been any discussion yet as to whether he kicks on at 5?

HUGH ANDERSON: Yes, there has been discussion. He's had a remarkable career. As Charlie said, he only started when he was 3. The successes have been absolutely top drawer. I think the aim is that we're going to keep you in training, isn't it, Charlie?

CHARLIE APPLEBY: Yes, we always say let's get the season out of the way, and then we can have healthy conversations during the course of the winter, but we're all hopeful we can keep this horse in training.

Q. Probably not something Godolphin need, but that was a win and you're in for the Dubai Cup. Is that a race you'd look at, or would that stretch him a bit?

CHARLIE APPLEBY: I think it would stretch him quite a bit, to be quite honest. I would like to think he could use that acceleration over that trip, but it's a long run in there and they have to get racing. I would feel you'd want a good 10 furlong horse to have enough speed to drop back to the 9. I find it hard if they go from a mile up to the 9, realistically, in my opinion.

Q. Rebel's Romance, reflections on him?

CHARLIE APPLEBY: Delighted. When you're beaten, you're disappointed. He came as I was -- split second, I thought he's going to do it, old boy, but full credit to the winner. But the one thing he's shown us, he's not ready to lie down just yet. Most importantly, as long as he comes out of the race well, get a well-deserved break and probably look at our usual winter program with him and head to Qatar and see if he books himself his usual ticket into the Sheema.

He lost nothing in defeat. By anybody's imagination, he's a horse that's just a dream to have. So delighted with him.

Q. Is there anything in particular you do back home with these horses pointing for the 7 furlong courses, the tight turns and such, to get them ready? You seem to have such success with them, your milers?

CHARLIE APPLEBY: This year obviously we used the Woodbine -- we used it on a few occasions now, that Woodbine mile. I do like that sort of routine. Probably more so this year because he was able to run the inside track at Woodbine, so that taught Notable Speech a bit more, and I came in here with a lot more confidence on the back of that run.

Previously obviously the likes of Space Blues and Modern Games, those guys have come around here -- Modern Games had come round here as a 2-year-old. He gained his experience really as a 2-year-old. I'm always keen to get them on these turning tracks before you come to a championship meeting. I feel it's invaluable, really, to get around there as best you can.

Q. Charlie, just looking at next season, what sort of program do you think you'll be on? He's obviously a bit unlucky at Ascot this year and the race didn't pan out for him. Is that the direction you'd potentially go?

CHARLIE APPLEBY: I believe so. That was our plan in the spring. Very much finished up here last year, we thought he was a Queen Anne-type horse. Therefore, he'll probably go to Lockinge, get the cobwebs out at Lockinge and look towards the Queen Anne and work back from there onwards then.

THE MODERATOR: Based on what you said, hope to see you at Keeneland next year.

CHARLIE APPLEBY: Thank you very much. Look forward to it. Just don't want the rain.